Girder-rail



(N0 Modeh W. s. ELLIOTT;

GIRDER RAIL.

No. 583,110. Patented May 25,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SJ ELLIOTT, OF. PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GlRDER-RAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,110, dated May 25,1897.

Application filed August 1, 1896. Serial No. 601,324. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM S. ELLlomg'a citizen of the United States,residing at Pitts burg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvementin Girder-Rails, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawin gs,formin gpart ofthis application, in which -Figure 1 is a side elevation of aportion of track built in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a modified construction, partly broken away, exposingthe circuitwire. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line IV IV of Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating a modified construction ofchair. Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating a still furthermodification.

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts wherever usedthroughout this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of street-railway tracks, andhas for its object the formation of a compound rail consisting of acontinuous separate chair and a continuous separate tread built up andjoined in such a manner that the resulting structure shall bepractically one continuous rail of equal undeviating strength at allpoints and free from weak joints or connections. A frequent cause oftrouble in railway-tracks arises from unevenness of the surface at thejoints due to the pound of the wheels, it being almost impossible toproperly support and rigidly connect the meeting ends of the tram-railsby the usual means of fish-plates and chairs, especially when such jointoccurs between the ties. I have obviated this difficulty by the use of acontinuous flanged chair so constructed as to receive the Web of thetram between its side members, the sections being lapped so as to breakjoint and the parts being riveted or bolted together at intervalsthroughout the entire length of the track.

A further object of my invention consists in the use of a ground-wireinclosed between the two members, making continuous contact and securingthe required results and functions of such a wire in the highest degreein a most simple, economical, and efficient manner in electric-railwaytracks.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the head or tread of the rail, havingthe downwardly-projecting web 3 preferably slightly tapered. The chairconsists of a bottom flange portion 4, a central web structure 5, andtwo side members 6 6, one of which is turned at right angles and formedinto a flange 7,which constitutes the tram of the rail. Between the sidemembers 6 6 is left an open space corresponding in size and taper of thesides to the web of the tread-member web 3. Rivets or bolts 8, passingthrough holes in the side members 6 and web 3, respectively, which holesmay, if preferred, be somewhat oval inshape and are equally spaced,serve to connect the members together.

In the forms illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6 the bottom of the web 3bears directly against the solid metal of the chair at the base of theopening between the sides 6, thus transmitting the strain of the loaddirectly to the body portion of the chair instead of a bearing of theside members against the under side of the head, as is the practice insome forms of built-up rails known to me, which construction results ina shearing action against the head. These forms of rails are illustratedin patents to R. V. Jones, No. 56,760; G. R. Dunbar, No. 171,782, P.Bargoin, No. 236,530, and E. Robinson, No. 429,868, with which I amfamiliar and which I do not desire to claim as any part of my presentinvention.

WVhen it is desired to embed a circuit-wire 9 within the rail betweenthe two members, the web 3 is made sufficiently shorter to leave spacefor the wire, which is laid continuously throughout the rail, thepressure thereon insuring a good contact with the metal, while at thesame time it is quite protected from contact with foreign bodies.

In Fig. 6 the tram 7 is bent upwardly, as at 7, leaving a gutter 10between the tread 2 and such upturned part of the tram for the receptionof the flange of the wheel, as indicated in dotted lines, whereby thewheel is prevented from leaving the track in rounding curves. Such agrooved rail may also be used to advantage on a straight track, ifdesired.

In the operation of rolling the various sections of chair illustratedone of the side members 6 is first reduced to its finished section, asindicated in dotted lines at 6, at right angles to the main bodyportion, and then bent up to the desired position. This operation ofrolling can be easily accomplished by the use of rolls of propersection, the sucessive passes resulting in the finished section, asshown.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the upwardly-extending side 6 opposite to theoutwardly-extending tread 7 is made comparatively short and justsufiicient to embrace the lower side of the web 3, the rivet 8connecting but one side with the web, such construction being desirablein light sections of rail.

If desired, this portion 6 may be entirely dispensed with, as shown inFig. 7, the tram and its web resting on the web structure 5 and againstthe side 6, apart of which is formed into the tread.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with atread member provided with a head 2 and web 3; a flanged base memberhaving a central web structure and divided extensions thereof embracingthe tread member, one of such extensions projecting laterally andeonstitntinga tram member, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a tread member provided with a head 2 and web 3;a flanged base member having a central web structure and dividedextensions thereof embracing the tread member, one of such extensionspro- 3' ectin g laterally and constituting a tram member,with awire-space intervening between the bottom of the space between thedivided extensions and the base of the tread-member web, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In combination with a tread member provided with a head 2 and web 3;a flanged base member having a central web structure and dividedextensions thereof, one of such extensions embracing the base of thetreadmember web, and the other projecting up to the head of the treadmember and then laterally, and constituting a tram member, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In combination with a tread member provided with a head 2 and web 3;a flanged base member having a central web structure and dividedextensions thereof, one of such extensions embracing the base of thetreadmember web, and the other projecting up to the head of the treadmember and then laterally and upwardly, forming a safety-groove, andconstituting a tram member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day June,1896.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT.

IVitnesses:

PETER J. EDWARDS, C. M. CLARKE.

